Identifying and Ranking the Factors Associated with Supply Chain Management Improvement Using AHP Method

Supply chain management involves the integrated and coordinated guidance of all members of the supply chain to enhance performance, increase efficiency, and achieve greater profits. Supply chain managers continuously seek methods to expedite the delivery of goods and services, reduce costs, and enhance quality. This research aims to identify and rank factors associated with supply chain management improvement using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The study, applied in nature, uses a descriptive and survey-based methodology. The sample comprises senior experts and managers from the Golestan Province Gas Company, chosen through the census method due to the limited decision-making team. Data was collected via two semi-structured questionnaires. Initially, experts' views were listed and categorized into criteria and sub-criteria using structural analysis. Subsequently, experts provided ratings through AHP pair-wise comparison questionnaires, which were used in the calculation of points. Data analysis was conducted using Expert Choice and SPSS19 software. Results indicate that marketing factors ranked highest among the main criteria, with a weight of 0.318, followed by financial, strategic, and organizational relationship criteria. Among the sub-criteria, study and identification of the supplier, product diversification strategies, and approaches to the final cost of the product were prioritized for supply chain management improvement.